MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23: Low-cost Canadian airline WestJet will start flying to Bermuda in May of 2010.
Premier Dr. Ewart Brown made that announcement this afternoon. He said: "WestJet's new service will add seat capacity and provide lower fares.
Dr. Brown said the complaint has been "Relatively high airfares. Not enough seats." about direct flights to and from Canada.
He added: "Over the past year, one-way fares between Canada and Bermuda dropped 17 per cent. At the same time, demand increased by the same 17 percent. That underscores what we all know: lower fares increase demand.
"Non-stop capacity between Bermuda and Canada has dropped 25 per cent over the past three years. Conversely, demand has been steadily increasing during the same period, emphasizing the need for additional seat capacity.
"For a long time, we have been searching for a Canadian airline that would introduce a low cost service from Toronto to compete with the service that Air Canada has so commendably provided for generations.
"Beginning in May 2010, Canadian low cost carrier WestJet will introduce daily non-stop service between Toronto and Bermuda. WestJet's new service will add seat capacity and provide lower fares.
"Canadian visitors to Bermuda and local residents travelling to Canada to visit friends and relatives or enrol in schools and universities will now have a choice in direct air service between Bermuda and Toronto, Canada's largest and best-known city.
"As we approach the end of the year, the Bermuda Tourism team is currently assessing our 2009 activities and formulating a marketing strategy for 2010. This government will continue to give solid, strategic support to achieving the goal of increasing the numbers of visitors to Bermuda. I am proud of the way that Bermuda Tourism's team has tackled our serious challenges and I want to take this opportunity to thank them publicly. We will never be on the side of spreading doom but, at the same time, we will be realistic about what we are capable of stretching ourselves to achieve.
Posted: Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Comment by:
Betty Chlopan
It would be great if West Jet has a connecting flight in Toronto from Vancouver. Right now, we take the red eye from Vancouver and make a connection in Toronto.
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Comment by:
Paula Piekos
I hope Westjet will consider havine a stop at Westchester Airport. In the early 80's, Air Florida flew out of there and it was great. The whole airline went down due to deregulation.(Not because of hitting the bridge, as is commonly thought)
Bringing back a Westchester Airport flight is long overdue. Many people in neighboring Greenwich are still rich.
Would that makes sense? Leave Canada and have one flight a day stop and pick up people at HPN?
I love Bermuda!
